My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group of children was surrounding her

cake is so

a knife and a paper plate, preparing to

to the side. “Today is Miss

hearing that, the head of the group, which happened to be a little girl in pigtails, immediately said, “Wish Miss Rachel a

sing the ‘Happy Birthday’

her

must blow out

Julian that there was no need to go to

Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would have a healing effect on any

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

say it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t come true,” a very young

to look, she found a little girl who wasn’t even

under the gazes of the children, clasped her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give the

to say thank you!” their parents

raced off, dabbing icing on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers

light of the streetlamp, Rachel finally smiled

to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take

I never wanted it, anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that point, Rachel’s expression was dull

her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting

and headed toward the

inside her apartment and about to close

was propped open by a large

up, Rachel saw Justin glowering at her, his darkened face made all the more grotesque by the centipede-like scar on it. Suddenly,

on business? she

sideways into the house and shut the door before

“I see you’ve been

two steps

resentfully, he stalked toward her as he pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the

like unmelting icebergs as he sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to

approached her, forcing her back

idea what

her arm and pulled, she staggered after